*<buy name="Souvenir t-shirts" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Beautiful "Apo Island" t-shirts can be bought (150 pesos each) can be purchased just off the tourist assistance center. It is recommended that these be bought, as they assist the islanders in their subsistence.</buy>

*<buy name="Souvenir t-shirts" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Beautiful "Apo Island" t-shirts can be bought (150 pesos each) can be purchased just off the tourist assistance center. It is recommended that these be bought, as they assist the islanders in their subsistence.</buy>

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*<buy name="Pasalubong shopping" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">The five odd souvenir stalls also see sarongs, and small handicraft items such as wooden key chains. They are NOT allowed to sell items liek sea shells - that itself should tell you how careful they are in nature conservation</buy>

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==Eat==

==Eat==

Line 82:

Line 84:

Several beach resorts at nearby towns regularly offer trips to the island, and it is more common among divers and tourists to get accommodations off Apo Island. Examples of hotels and resorts outside Apo Island are Liquid Dive Resort [http://www.liquiddumaguete.com], Playa de Malatapay Resort and Restaurant (www.playademalatapay.com) and Thalatta Beach & Dive Resort in Maluay Zamboangita ( www.thalattaresort.com ), Bahura Resort & Spa [http://www.bahura.com] in Dauin and Wellbeach Dive Resort in Maluay [http://www.wellbeach.com] . Rates span from budget to splurge, with some hotels usually offering a range of activities that explore the mountains, water falls, sulfur springs and other beaches of Negros Oriental.

Several beach resorts at nearby towns regularly offer trips to the island, and it is more common among divers and tourists to get accommodations off Apo Island. Examples of hotels and resorts outside Apo Island are Liquid Dive Resort [http://www.liquiddumaguete.com], Playa de Malatapay Resort and Restaurant (www.playademalatapay.com) and Thalatta Beach & Dive Resort in Maluay Zamboangita ( www.thalattaresort.com ), Bahura Resort & Spa [http://www.bahura.com] in Dauin and Wellbeach Dive Resort in Maluay [http://www.wellbeach.com] . Rates span from budget to splurge, with some hotels usually offering a range of activities that explore the mountains, water falls, sulfur springs and other beaches of Negros Oriental.

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There are only two resorts on the island, Liberty Community lodge and Apo Island Beach Resort.

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It is commonly thought that there are only two resorts on the island, Liberty Community lodge and Apo Island Beach Resort. However, these are among the better two (you can stay in oen and eat at the other. Liberty tends to have a fully functional restaurant, while Apo island beach resort has very few rooms, and hence fewer guests.

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*<sleep name="Liberty Lodge" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="" lat="" long="">Liberty Community Lodge [http://www.apoisland.com/] is the larger of the two, it has a very nice restaurant and both private and dorm type rooms. The private rooms are situated in what appears to be a large expensive private house, the showers use barely desalinated water and the island is always on restricted water use.

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More photos of Liberty lodge can be found here - http://goo.gl/jEo8A</sleep>

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*<sleep name="Apo Island Beach Resort" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="" lat="" long="">Apo Island Beach Resort [http://www.apoislandresort.com/new/]is on the opposite side of the boulder from Liberty Community Lodge. It is 5 minute walking from Liberty and in a more secluded cove. The cottages here are made of earth / concrete mix (as compared to Liberty which has a lot of bamboo / nipa).

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REMEMBER to bring a rechargeable flashlight if you plan to stay overnight on the island.</sleep>

Liberty Community Lodge [http://www.apoisland.com/] is the larger of the two, it has a very nice restaurant and both private and dorm type rooms. The private rooms are situated in what appears to be a large expensive private house, the showers use barely desalinated water and the island is always on restricted water use.

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Unlike Liberty, Mario has running water. Electricity tends to be a precious commodity all over the island.</sleep>

Get in

1) Take a flight to Dumaguete
2) Take a bus from the airport to Malatapay, Zamboanguita (this is where the bangkas leave for Apo island)
Alternately, ask your hotel to arrange the transport. The latter is far more convenient.

Boat rental (2 way)it doesn't matter if you stay in the island for a day or a week. The rates are the same.
2000 pesos - small boat max 5 pax
3000 pesos - big boat max 10 pax
Solo travellers may also join other boats for 300 pesos.

There is a counter at Zamboanguita pier, where you pay the environmental fee.They arrange the boat for you.

Warning : You HAVE to walk through the water to board the boat. So remember to change into your slippers (the water is stony) and either wear shorts or roll up your clothes.

The boats do not have any curtains on the sides, so assume that you will be wet within minutes of leaving. Dress accordingly a, be ready to be wet, and keep all your belongings (especially camera, money and documents) in your bag. The boatman will keep your bags inside the boat in the bottom, so it is more safer.

You must arrange for transport from one of the local boats to come and retrieve you for a fee. It is a several mile trip in an outrigger canoe with outboard motor over open water, swells can be large and you can expect to be sprayed with saltwater throughout the trip (wear sunglasses). The boats will generally meet you at Zamboanguita where the Malatapay Wednesday market is held. Take a jeepney from Dumagete, just ask the driver or the guy who collects fees off the back of the jeepny to warn you when it is your stop.
It can also be arranged through Apo Island Resort to go from Dumaguete to Malatapay-Dauin, and from there directly to the island.

If you want to stay near the pier in Dumagete, the Coco Grande Hotel [1]is only 1 minute away. There are many similar htoels liek Liquid Dive located neither closeby nor far away from this jetty. There are 4 lodges in Apo island itself. While their rooms are sparse, they do not have any electricity at night (and for many hours during the day)

See

One of the Philippines' famous diving sites, Apo Island has one of the world's best known community-organized marine sanctuaries. It is home to over 650 documented species of fish and estimated to have over 400 species of corals.

Snorkel / See turtles, [2]. Green Sea turtles come routinely to the south west coast (near the beach off the bakery near Liberty resort) for eating and cleaning. Snorkeling here will invariably result in a pleasant encounter with these beautiful creatures. Snorkels and lifejackets are available for hire at the shops that line the lane off Liberty lodge and the tourist assistance center, for about 250 pesos

Trek. There are at least six different treks in the island - ranging from 1 to 4.5 in difficulty (on a scale of 1=easy and 5=tough). These have been described in detail on the Apo island blog - http://visitapoisland.blogspot.com/

Dive. Two dive shops are located on the island itself. The reefs along Apo island tend to be among the best dive spots in the world. however, watch out for poor visibility when seas are rough (often)

Eco Trail, [3]. The eco trail is a 45 minute trek (difficulty level = 3) from the lagoon avenue (marked on google maps) to the view deck (on the southern tip of the island). Carry at least 1 liter of water per person, bring your shades and hat, wear full clothes (in some parts, the grass is very close to the trail / covers it). The trail can be steep. Wear walking / running shoes.

Relax on the Beach. The beaches are small (the island mainly is hilly with rocky cliffs), but clean, and bereft of tourists (mostly residents of the island - who number less than 1000!). You can easily sit on the beach at any time, or even sleep on it at night. After 10 pm, all lights on the island go off (since the generator is switched off) and the view from the beach of a star studded sky is over whelming

Lighthouse Trek. The trek up the lighthouse (difficulty level = 2.5) consists of concrete steps most of the way (and muddy trails along some part). It takes you to the tallest point on the island, with a modern solar powered lighthouse on one side, and the old abandoned lighthouse next to it (you can see the abandoned lighthouse keepers chambers and the old disused fresnel lens). Views on the eco trail are far better than the views here. Time taken = 40 minutes

Do

Diving and snorkeling are the main activities around the island. Resorts on and off the island typically hold diving programs for different skill levels. Instructors are commonly PADI-certified. The diving is excellent, plenty of reefs, tons of fish and turtles-amazing visibility. Keep an eye out for the Giant Trevally which is known in these waters.

Buy

Local women will try to sell you t-shirts and sarongs when you arrive and when you leave.

Souvenir t-shirts. Beautiful "Apo Island" t-shirts can be bought (150 pesos each) can be purchased just off the tourist assistance center. It is recommended that these be bought, as they assist the islanders in their subsistence.

Pasalubong shopping. The five odd souvenir stalls also see sarongs, and small handicraft items such as wooden key chains. They are NOT allowed to sell items liek sea shells - that itself should tell you how careful they are in nature conservation

Eat

Both hotels have restaurants, Liberty's has particularly good chocolate/banana shakes. Menus are limited but what is available is pretty good. At Liberty's, the dive master will go table to table during dinner and help you arrange the next day's dives.

Drink

Sleep

Several beach resorts at nearby towns regularly offer trips to the island, and it is more common among divers and tourists to get accommodations off Apo Island. Examples of hotels and resorts outside Apo Island are Liquid Dive Resort [5], Playa de Malatapay Resort and Restaurant (www.playademalatapay.com) and Thalatta Beach & Dive Resort in Maluay Zamboangita ( www.thalattaresort.com ), Bahura Resort & Spa [6] in Dauin and Wellbeach Dive Resort in Maluay [7] . Rates span from budget to splurge, with some hotels usually offering a range of activities that explore the mountains, water falls, sulfur springs and other beaches of Negros Oriental.

It is commonly thought that there are only two resorts on the island, Liberty Community lodge and Apo Island Beach Resort. However, these are among the better two (you can stay in oen and eat at the other. Liberty tends to have a fully functional restaurant, while Apo island beach resort has very few rooms, and hence fewer guests.

Liberty Lodge. Liberty Community Lodge [8] is the larger of the two, it has a very nice restaurant and both private and dorm type rooms. The private rooms are situated in what appears to be a large expensive private house, the showers use barely desalinated water and the island is always on restricted water use. More photos of Liberty lodge can be found here - http://goo.gl/jEo8A

Apo Island Beach Resort. Apo Island Beach Resort [9]is on the opposite side of the boulder from Liberty Community Lodge. It is 5 minute walking from Liberty and in a more secluded cove. The cottages here are made of earth / concrete mix (as compared to Liberty which has a lot of bamboo / nipa). REMEMBER to bring a rechargeable flashlight if you plan to stay overnight on the island.

Mario Scuba Diving and Home Stay, (Near Apo Island Chapel), ☎09063610254, [10]. Marios is 2 minutes walk and inwards of Liberty. The rooms are nicer, but no views (unlike Liberty). Photos of Marios dive shop Homestay can be found here - http://goo.gl/jEo8A It is well sign boarded, and locate just next to the chapel. Send a text / call them to book. Unlike Liberty, Mario has running water. Electricity tends to be a precious commodity all over the island.

Runors Lodging. This two storied private lodging can be found inward - on the way, from the beach (near Liberty) towards the Apo island high school.

Get out

Apo island is generally the place to get out too, Dumagete is the city to get to Apo from. Here [11] is a good write up on the island.